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Cyprus: Embassy’s Response to the Article by “Nea” Newspaper

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Giannis Poulopoulos of the show “Super Katerina” reached out with a relevant question to the spokesperson of the Cypriot embassy in Athens, inquiring about the veracity of the discussion between the Cypriot Ambassador and the President of ERT, as reported by “Nea” newspaper.

The Cypriot Embassy neither denied nor confirmed the article, offering a brief yet meaningful comment:

“No comment.”

As discussed on the show, the fact that the Embassy neither refutes nor confirms anything speaks volumes. Additionally, attention was drawn to the fact that ERT‘s response came through a personal statement from its President rather than from the company itself, which also carries significant symbolism.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the latest developments!

Silia Kapsis: “I Don’t Know What Happened Between ERT and CyBC (RIK), I’m Here for the Music”

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Upon her return from Amsterdam, television channels awaited Silia Kapsis at the airport to gauge her reaction to the recent revelations surrounding Konstantinos Zoulas’s statements to the Cypriot ambassador, as reported by the media.

Silia Kapsis admitted she was not well-versed on the matter, revealing that both her mother and the people at RIK had shielded her from reading articles regarding the issue.

“I don’t know what happened between ERT and RIK. I’m here to sing and dance. I’m here for the music,” she stated.

Pressed by journalists, Silia Kapsis acknowledged that if such allegations were true, it saddened her as she wished for Greece and Cyprus to remain united.

“I’m half Greek and half Cypriot. I’m from Thessaloniki and Larnaca. All of this saddens me. Greece and Cyprus should be united. I will sing for both countries,” she declared.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the latest developments!

Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (RIK): “It is a violation of the regulations what the media reports” | “It is known to the EBU!”

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In a recent segment on RIK1, the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (RIK) addressed the allegations raised by the media and clarified its stance on the matter. Andreas Anastasiou, the head of press for the Cypriot delegation, asserted that the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) is now aware of the situation and emphasized that any such claims constitute a violation of the competition’s regulations.

Anastasiou elaborated on the voting process of the jury committee and addressed concerns regarding statements attributed to the President of the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ERT). He stressed that if the reports are accurate, they represent a breach of the rules governing the Eurovision Song Contest.

Highlighting the longstanding relationship between ERT and CyBC, Anastasiou underscored that these allegations may necessitate changes in their dynamic. He reiterated that the EBU has been informed of the situation.

The relations between ERT and CyBC are long-standing and not personalised. If the reports are true, you can understand that some things will change. They are known to the EBU.

Concluding his remarks, Anastasiou extended well wishes to Marina Satti and Greece, making it clear that he was speaking on behalf of CyBC (RIK).

With the matter now brought to the attention of the EBU and considering Anastasiou’s statements, it appears that RIK awaits further developments from the organizing authority. This incident underscores the need for resolution between ERT and RIK, a matter that the EBU will likely need to address once again.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the latest updates on this developing situation!

Greece: The repsonse of the President of ERT to the “Nea” article!

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The President of ERT, Constantinos Zoulas, in his reply sent to us a few minutes ago, responds to what the Ambassador of Cyprus in Athens allegedly attributed to him during their meeting, in fact attributing a different content to their discussion, from the one in which is revealed in the “Nea” newspaper.

The Management of ERT did not and apparently is not allowed to have the slightest involvement in the evaluations of the independent jury proposed every year by the Communication Department of ERT for the Eurovision Song Contest. Therefore, it had no involvement both in the first place that Cyprus got from the independent jury of ERT in 2021, and in last year’s evaluation of the Cypriot participation as the 7th best among 26 countries. This is what I explained to the ambassador of Cyprus at our pre-quarterly meeting, – of course on the sidelines of the much more serious issues we discussed – by telling him that those involved in ERT with Eurovision were surprised by CyBC’s decision to represent Cyprus this year with one of the songs that ERT rejected last year. And in this context, I wished that the judgment of this year’s independent jury appointed by ERT would not be the same as the one that rejected the song in question, without anyone – let alone me personally – being able to influence its judgment. Having expressed my great surprise at the fact that the Eurovision Song Contest was the subject of diplomatic information, and indeed at a time when ERT and CyBC have excellent cooperation, I wish great success both to Cyprus and Greece.

With the actual denial of the publication on the part of Constantinos Zoulas, and of the Cypriot Ambassador, you now realize that the continuation of this story is expected to be even more interesting.

We remind you that tomorrow morning the response of CyBC through the head of the country’s delegation to the competition, Ms. Evi Papamichael, is expected.

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the updates around the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest!

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Cyprus: Official Response from RIK Regarding Nea’s Article Tomorrow Monday!

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Tomorrow, Monday, through the morning show of RIK1, the head of the Cypriot delegation to the contest, Ms. Evi Papamichael, is expected to give official answers to everything mentioned in the article of Nea, which has monopolized Eurovision interest for the past 24 hours.

The official position of RIK through the delegation leader of the country in the competition will be known tomorrow, Monday. Ms. Evi Papamichael is expected to provide answers regarding the stance that RIK will take on all the allegations made through the article of the newspaper “Ta Nea Savvatokyriako“, which has already been transmitted both through television broadcasts and online.

According to what was said on the show “I Love Soukou”, we will learn tomorrow the reaction of RIK, as well as the actions it will take or may have already taken and have not been disclosed. On the other hand, ERT continues not to respond to yesterday’s allegations, despite the continuous pressures from all media outlets.

We remind you that, based on what the newspaper reports, on February 21, the Ambassador of Cyprus to Athens, Mr. Augustides, and the President of ERT, Mr. Zoulas, met at the Radio House of Agia Paraskevi. Among the things discussed, the Ambassador informs the Cypriot government through an official document that the President of ERT notified him that Greece will not give a high score to Cyprus in the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest. Nea reports:

It clearly predicted the result of the Greek jury, which had not even been formed in February, for a vote that would take place three months later.

The issue is not exactly insignificant. This is because, according to the regulations of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) governing the regulations, ERT does not vote, as Zoulas informed the Ambassador of Cyprus, but is required to establish an independent jury, which is explicitly prohibited from consisting of employees of state television, in order to evaluate the entries on artistic and only criteria, without being influenced by external factors.

With great interest, before we take a position on the issue, we will await the official explanations from ERT, as well as the stance that RIK and EBU will take in the face of this apparent violation of the regulations.

Eurovisionfun will monitor the issue and keep you informed, as always, of any developments, in this very serious issue that has arisen and will obviously monopolize interest in Greece and Cyprus in the coming days.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Greece: ERT’s shock confession for predetermined jury vote

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A bombshell news that will disturb the already disturbed relations between RIK and ERT, was published a short while ago by the newspaper Ta Nea.

The Ambassador of Cyprus lights fires

The news, which is also on the cover of the newspaper, concerns an official document – an information letter from Stavros Avgoustidis, Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus in Athens, to official bodies of Cyprus, in which he informs the authorities in Nicosia, about what was communicated to him in a recent working meeting at the ERT’s Headquarters, by the President of the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ERT), Konstantinos Zoulas, concerning the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest and the jury votes that the Greek jury committee will give to Cyprus.

According to what is revealed in the newspaper, the President of ERT announced on February 22nd to the Cypriot Ambassador in Athens that Greece will give a low score to the Cypriot participation in Eurovision 2024. In more detail, the article states the following:

Official confession for… Eurovision!

Just when you think you have seen it all, the official document signed by the Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus in Greece, Stavros Avgoustidis, for his meeting with the President of ERT, Konstantinos Zoulas, comes to leave you… in shock.

This is, in particular, the ambassador’s official briefing to the Presidential Palace of Cyprus, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Interior, the government spokesman and other official bodies, for his visit on February 21 to ERT’s premises. During their meeting, according to the ambassador, Zoulas referred to the burning issue of… Eurovision, stressing that “as far as Cyprus’ participation in this year’s Eurovision contest is concerned, ERT will not give high marks to the Cypriot entry”.

In other words, he clearly announced the result of the Greek jury, which in February had not even been set up, for a vote that would take place three months later.

The issue is not exactly trivial. This is because, according to the regulations of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) governing the regulation, ERT does not vote, as Zoulas told the Cypriot ambassador, but must set up an independent jury, which is expressly forbidden to be composed of employees of state television, in order to evaluate the entries on artistic criteria alone, without being influenced by external factors.

So one wonders how exactly Zoulas knew the result of such an evaluation by then. Unless he has a talent for futurology, say, or a magic crystal ball…

Awaiting developments in Athens, Nicosia and EBU

Obviously, what the Cypriot ambassador in Athens reports to the government services in Nicosia is very serious and raises relentless questions regarding the credibility of the Greek jury, whose members have already been notified to the EBU, since the deadline was Friday 12 April.

Of course all of the above comes a few months after the uproar and reactions caused by the 4 points given by last year’s Greek jury that deprived Andrew Lambrou and Cyprus of the top 10.

Eurovisionfun will be following the issue and will keep you informed as always for any news on this very serious issue that has arisen and which will obviously monopolize the interest in Greece and Cyprus in the coming days.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all developments!